Ancient trees

[jarryd]

Hi guys,

I am new to the forum and tasmania. I am interested in very old trees and have spent a bit of time trying to see some of the older trees around the state. I was hoping someone may be able to shed some light on where to see old trees? the kind of areas that have remained undisturbed for thousands of years.

I am interested in pencil pines, huon pines, diselma, king billy pines etc. mainly endemic conifers that have the ability to reach great age.

I also love myrtle beech, deciduous beech, sassafras etc so am open to any insight on patches of beautiful old growth rainforest.

[tastrax]

Here is a very old stand of huon pine trees

http://www.apstas.com/Mt__Read_Huon_pine.html
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=3240

Other big stands of King Billy, Pencil Pines are likely to be off track walking trips although you can see some great examples on the tracks around Cradle Mountain

[Scottyk]

There is some really good size King Billy pines in Pine Valley.
Pencil Pines are great at Dixon's Kingdom, also some really nice big and very mature stands on the northern end of the February Plains.
I am sure there are lots of other spots people can think of

[stepbystep]

Interesting this topic got modified. Several of the examples I cited are in areas proposed for mining and not even in national parks....

Smack bang in the middle of a waste dump for the Mt Lindsay mine...go and see it before it's turned into toxic sludge.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nj3iy11wi8ke6 ... 9.jpg?dl=0

[MickyB]

Interesting this topic got modified.

The topic was posted twice stepbystep


viewtopic.php?f=3&t=18695

[stepbystep]

Interesting this topic got modified.

The topic was posted twice stepbystep


viewtopic.php?f=3&t=18695

Haha...whoops...as you were folks...

[MickyB]

Has anyone had any success trying to grow Huon Pine from cuttings and if so what method did you use? There is not a lot of info available on the net but I have read about a couple of different methods. I only have one plant (about 6' high) so I want to maximize my chances of success. Thanks.

I apologise for hijacking this thread.

[headwerkn]

Small stands of Pencil pines are relatively common around many of the central highlands lakes, particularly throughout the Western Lakes area.

The stands at the aptly named Pine Lake (just north of Great Lake on the Lake Highway) are probably the most accessible I can think of, with a short boardwalk from the road. There's also a decent stand along the eastern edge of the upper Julians Lakes. Small ones are littered around Lake Ina, as we discovered this weekend just past.

Amazing looking trees, wonderful look at while enjoying the lakeshore. Absolute pain in the *&%$#! to snag your leader/tippet/fly though! Though what shrub/tree isn't?

Cheers, Ben.

[icefest]

Has anyone had any success trying to grow Huon Pine from cuttings and if so what method did you use? There is not a lot of info available on the net but I have read about a couple of different methods. I only have one plant (about 6' high) so I want to maximize my chances of success. Thanks.

I apologise for hijacking this thread.

IIRC they can be propagated by bending a branch down into the soil and putting a tiny cut in it, that way they are less likely to die before growing.

[MickyB]

Has anyone had any success trying to grow Huon Pine from cuttings and if so what method did you use? There is not a lot of info available on the net but I have read about a couple of different methods. I only have one plant (about 6' high) so I want to maximize my chances of success. Thanks.

I apologise for hijacking this thread.

IIRC they can be propagated by bending a branch down into the soil and putting a tiny cut in it, that way they are less likely to die before growing.

Thanks icefest. You do remember correctly . The method you mentioned is the layering method and according to the link that tastrax provided this has occurred naturally with the huon pines at Mt Read.

My 6' tree is actually a King Billy and not a huon pine Don't know what I was thinking. I do have a couple of huon pines though but they are only about 60cm high. They might be a bit young but still might give this method a try.

For anyone interested I found a great site about growing Tassie plants and how to propagate them. This is what is says about huon pine cuttings

Cuttings strike fairly readily. Use tip cuttings with or without "heels" and strike in a 2:1 mix of peat moss and sand. Late summer is best time to collect cuttings. Should strike more successfully if stored in a plastic bag with sphagnum moss for moisture in the refrigerator at or about 3-4oC for about 6-8 weeks prior to setting out. Bottom heat and mist is beneficial or a plastic bag over the pot. Plants grow slowly and require adequate moisture. Also grows from layers.


http://www.understorey-network.org.au/c ... franklinii (Huon Pine)

http://www.understorey-network.org.au/index.html (Home)